The Kenya Table Tennis Association held its 1^st Strathmore Open Tournament on 5^th and 6^th Oct. 2013 in the Students’ centre. The tournament was one of the many that the association is holding countrywide to select a national team to represent the country in international tournaments.  Participating teams were drawn from all parts of the country.

 

This tournament will from now henceforth be an annual table tennis event at Strathmore University. The University has consistently participated in the KTA tournaments with excellent results. Gloria Sigowo (BCOM 4^th year) has represented the country twice; in the all Africa games (September 3–18, 2011 in Maputo) and the Olympic qualifiers (10th to 13th May 2012 in Doha). Other Strathmore University players are Kennedy Chepkor (BCOM 4^th year), Abdul (ACCA), Evelyn Nyanjoka (BBIT 2^nd year) and Mercy Tirop (CPA) among others.

 

In this last tournament, Strathmore women’s team won the team-event trophy, the men’s singles was won by veteran player Antony Mathenge (alias Chuma ya Samani) after a tough match against John Ojiambo; this was a closely contested match. The ladies singles was won by Sejal Chandarana from Nairobi, with Jinita Shah (Mombasa) and Gloria (Strathmore) in position 2 and 3 respectively. The ladies team event went to the Strathmore team whereas the men’s team event trophy was captured by Makini School.

 

In its plans, KTA envisions Kenyan Universities holding their own league games from which the best players will be selected. ‘KTA has also plans for regular trainings for players, umpires and coaches with a view to improve the standards of the game’, remarked Mr. Mudibo, KTA Secretary-general at the end of the tournament. He thanked Strathmore University for hosting the tournament and promised to support SU team to improve in its performance.